Why It Is Not Haram for a Girl to Play Football in Islam
C.J Ahmed-06.05.2023
A girl playing football is a controversial topic among socially conservative Muslims and various fatwas prohibiting women playing football has added more coal to the fire. The truth is, if you open mindedly study all the verses in the Quran and the hadiths, you will realize that women and girls an definitely play football. The argument against females playing the game of football is that it causes “fitnah” or in other words, tribulations. Tribulations is subjective and it is used as weapon by some hard-line clerics to forbid anything under the sun which they deem according to their personal tastes as prohibited.
Nowadays Muslim men are famous for oppressing women by using the word “fitna” as a blanket statement and this word is used to take away the human rights of women which Islam has guaranteed. What must be understood is that Muslims should not go in to extremes by saying that everything is haram. Islam is an easy religion and let us stick to the advice of the prophet (sal) who said:
"Make things easy for the people, and do not make it difficult for them, and make them calm (with glad tidings) and do not make them run away (from Islam)
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
A vice news article titled “An Islamic Body in Indonesia Forbids Women From Playing Football” dated -11th July,2019 and following is an except from that article,
Last week, the United States’ women’s national football team defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the women’s World Cup final. But their title wasn’t the only highlight. Their victory was also a symbolic win for a major issue the team has been fighting for: equal pay for women.
The victory garnered plenty of attention across the world, with many enamored by the team’s role in the movement for women’s rights. But in Aceh, Indonesia, where Sharia law reigns supreme, civil society groups and Muslim clerical bodies are not so enthusiastic. In Aceh, lawmakers and religious leaders have a completely different view of the sport: they see women’s football as haram, or forbidden. Aceh’s Ulema Deliberation Council (MPU) has since issued a fatwa declaring that football is haram. “Every game that requires excessive movement is forbidden, for men and even more so for women. Avoiding sinful actions is preferable to any benefits the sport may bring. There is a lot of basis stating that football is forbidden in Aceh’s context,” MPU deputy Faisal Ali told VoA Indonesia.
(Sorce link-https://www.vice.com/en/article/zmp973/aceh-islamic-body-indonesia-fatwa-womens-football)
The other main argument against women plying football is that they re eposing their awrah (privte pats). Let me explain in detils with the needed refutation on what awrah is for women in each scenario.
1.Awrah for a woman in front of a woman
Awrah for women in front of women is only the private parts. A girl who has attained puberty need not cover any other area apart from the private parts. The evidence for this is in the below hadiths.
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
The Prophet (sal) said: A man should not look at the private parts of another man, and a woman should not look at the private parts of another woman. A man should not lie with another man without wearing lower garment under one cover; and a woman should not be lie with another woman without wearing lower garment under one cover.
(Abu Dawud-authenticated by Albani)
Abd al-Rahman, the son of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, reported from his father:
The Messenger of Allah (sal) said: A man should not see the private parts of another man, and a woman should not see the private parts of another woman, and a man should not lie with another man under one covering, and a woman should not lie with another woman under one covering.
( Sahih Muslim)
Some scholars say by using the above hadiths that the awrah of a women is between the naval and the knee but this is not what is mentioned in these hadiths. Its only the private parts that are mentioned. Sheikh Salih Al Uthaymin said:
"With regard to her mahrams what she may uncover is the same as that which she may uncover in front of other women, so she may uncover her head, neck, feet, hands, forearms and calves, etc. But she should not make her clothes short".
(Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 12/276, 277)
The above fatwa of Imam Uthaymin is only his opinion and there is no evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah to prove that a women cannot wear a short dress in front of other women.
2. The awrah for a woman in front of mahram men such as father, brother etc.
As for what need to be shown for a women among the mahram men such as her father, brothers etc, Allah says n the Quran
'and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent , and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women”
(24:31).
based on the above verse a women can show her adornment to her mahram men. the word Juyubihinna in the above verse means to cover the bossoms.
There is debate on upto which part she can show her body to her mahram. But there is a hadith which clarifies this below.
Narrated by Muawiah ibn Haydah,
" I said : Apostle of Allah, from whom should we conceal our private parts and to whom can we show? He replied : conceal your private parts except from your wife and from whom your right hand possesses (concubines). I then asked: Apostle of Allah, (what should we do), if the people are assembled together? He replied: If it is within your power then no one will look at it, then you should try that no one can look it. I then asked: Apostle of Allah, if one of us is alone? He replied: Allah is more entitled than people that bashfulness should be shown to him (feel shy more to Allah than to people)."
(Abu Dawud and Tirmidihi and others and authenticated by Albani)
Based on the above hadith t i clear that the awrah for a women or man in front of the mahram is the private parts. Some scholars are of the view that a women may show her neck,hands, head to this category as mentioned in the verse mentioned above and not anything else but there is no sound evidence from the sunnah of our messenger (sal) stating such a thing and what is evident from the authentic hadith is that her private parts is what she should conceal. Another important thing that needs to be mentioned is that slave women need not cover their heads because hijab is only for the free believing women.
Anas (rali) reported: ‘Umar (rali) once saw a slave-girl that belonged to us (to Anas) wearing a scarf, so Umar poked her and told her: ‘Don’t assume the manners of free woman.”
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah-Graded Sahih by Albani in irwa al ghaleel)
Anas (rali) narrated:
“The slaves of `Umar (rali) used to serve us with their hair uncovered and hitting their breasts.”
(Baihaqi Sunan wal Kubra-authenticated by Albani in al irwa)
3. Elderly women who have passed child bearing age need not wear the hijab.
Allah says in the Quran
“And as for women past childbearing who do not expect wedlock, it is no sin on them if they discard their clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment. But to refrain is better for them. And Allaah is All‑Hearer, All‑Knower”
(24:60)
From the above verse a women who has passed the childbearing age and has no intention to marry can uncover her head and not wear the hijab in front of non mahram men. This also includes for women with or without husbands.
Apart from this a women can be naked in front of a blind man or a child who is not mature enough to know about nudity. Allah (Swt) says:
"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their Khimār over their breasts and not display their beauty except to their husband, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex"
( 24:31)
The prophet (sal) told Fathima bint Qays(rali) to observe her iddah in Ummu Makthoum (rali)'s house by saying:
"for he is a blind man and you can take off your garment.”
(Sahih Muslim and others)
There is nothing wrong in a girl or woman wearing shorts and playing football because it is not haram in Islam.
A girl playing football is a controversial topic among socially conservative Muslims and various fatwas prohibiting women playing football has added more coal to the fire. The truth is, if you open mindedly study all the verses in the Quran and the hadiths, you will realize that women and girls an definitely play football. The argument against females playing the game of football is that it causes “fitnah” or in other words, tribulations. Tribulations is subjective and it is used as weapon by some hard-line clerics to forbid anything under the sun which they deem according to their personal tastes as prohibited.
Nowadays Muslim men are famous for oppressing women by using the word “fitna” as a blanket statement and this word is used to take away the human rights of women which Islam has guaranteed. What must be understood is that Muslims should not go in to extremes by saying that everything is haram. Islam is an easy religion and let us stick to the advice of the prophet (sal) who said:
"Make things easy for the people, and do not make it difficult for them, and make them calm (with glad tidings) and do not make them run away (from Islam)
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
A vice news article titled “An Islamic Body in Indonesia Forbids Women From Playing Football” dated -11th July,2019 and following is an except from that article,
Last week, the United States’ women’s national football team defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the women’s World Cup final. But their title wasn’t the only highlight. Their victory was also a symbolic win for a major issue the team has been fighting for: equal pay for women.
The victory garnered plenty of attention across the world, with many enamored by the team’s role in the movement for women’s rights. But in Aceh, Indonesia, where Sharia law reigns supreme, civil society groups and Muslim clerical bodies are not so enthusiastic. In Aceh, lawmakers and religious leaders have a completely different view of the sport: they see women’s football as haram, or forbidden. Aceh’s Ulema Deliberation Council (MPU) has since issued a fatwa declaring that football is haram. “Every game that requires excessive movement is forbidden, for men and even more so for women. Avoiding sinful actions is preferable to any benefits the sport may bring. There is a lot of basis stating that football is forbidden in Aceh’s context,” MPU deputy Faisal Ali told VoA Indonesia.
(Sorce link-https://www.vice.com/en/article/zmp973/aceh-islamic-body-indonesia-fatwa-womens-football)
The other main argument against women plying football is that they re eposing their awrah (privte pats). Let me explain in detils with the needed refutation on what awrah is for women in each scenario.
1.Awrah for a woman in front of a woman
Awrah for women in front of women is only the private parts. A girl who has attained puberty need not cover any other area apart from the private parts. The evidence for this is in the below hadiths.
Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri:
The Prophet (sal) said: A man should not look at the private parts of another man, and a woman should not look at the private parts of another woman. A man should not lie with another man without wearing lower garment under one cover; and a woman should not be lie with another woman without wearing lower garment under one cover.
(Abu Dawud-authenticated by Albani)
Abd al-Rahman, the son of Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, reported from his father:
The Messenger of Allah (sal) said: A man should not see the private parts of another man, and a woman should not see the private parts of another woman, and a man should not lie with another man under one covering, and a woman should not lie with another woman under one covering.
( Sahih Muslim)
Some scholars say by using the above hadiths that the awrah of a women is between the naval and the knee but this is not what is mentioned in these hadiths. Its only the private parts that are mentioned. Sheikh Salih Al Uthaymin said:
"With regard to her mahrams what she may uncover is the same as that which she may uncover in front of other women, so she may uncover her head, neck, feet, hands, forearms and calves, etc. But she should not make her clothes short".
(Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 12/276, 277)
The above fatwa of Imam Uthaymin is only his opinion and there is no evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah to prove that a women cannot wear a short dress in front of other women.
2. The awrah for a woman in front of mahram men such as father, brother etc.
As for what need to be shown for a women among the mahram men such as her father, brothers etc, Allah says n the Quran
'and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent , and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women”
(24:31).
based on the above verse a women can show her adornment to her mahram men. the word Juyubihinna in the above verse means to cover the bossoms.
There is debate on upto which part she can show her body to her mahram. But there is a hadith which clarifies this below.
Narrated by Muawiah ibn Haydah,
" I said : Apostle of Allah, from whom should we conceal our private parts and to whom can we show? He replied : conceal your private parts except from your wife and from whom your right hand possesses (concubines). I then asked: Apostle of Allah, (what should we do), if the people are assembled together? He replied: If it is within your power then no one will look at it, then you should try that no one can look it. I then asked: Apostle of Allah, if one of us is alone? He replied: Allah is more entitled than people that bashfulness should be shown to him (feel shy more to Allah than to people)."
(Abu Dawud and Tirmidihi and others and authenticated by Albani)
Based on the above hadith t i clear that the awrah for a women or man in front of the mahram is the private parts. Some scholars are of the view that a women may show her neck,hands, head to this category as mentioned in the verse mentioned above and not anything else but there is no sound evidence from the sunnah of our messenger (sal) stating such a thing and what is evident from the authentic hadith is that her private parts is what she should conceal. Another important thing that needs to be mentioned is that slave women need not cover their heads because hijab is only for the free believing women.
Anas (rali) reported: ‘Umar (rali) once saw a slave-girl that belonged to us (to Anas) wearing a scarf, so Umar poked her and told her: ‘Don’t assume the manners of free woman.”
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah-Graded Sahih by Albani in irwa al ghaleel)
Anas (rali) narrated:
“The slaves of `Umar (rali) used to serve us with their hair uncovered and hitting their breasts.”
(Baihaqi Sunan wal Kubra-authenticated by Albani in al irwa)
3. Elderly women who have passed child bearing age need not wear the hijab.
Allah says in the Quran
“And as for women past childbearing who do not expect wedlock, it is no sin on them if they discard their clothing in such a way as not to show their adornment. But to refrain is better for them. And Allaah is All‑Hearer, All‑Knower”
(24:60)
From the above verse a women who has passed the childbearing age and has no intention to marry can uncover her head and not wear the hijab in front of non mahram men. This also includes for women with or without husbands.
Apart from this a women can be naked in front of a blind man or a child who is not mature enough to know about nudity. Allah (Swt) says:
"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their Khimār over their breasts and not display their beauty except to their husband, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex"
( 24:31)
The prophet (sal) told Fathima bint Qays(rali) to observe her iddah in Ummu Makthoum (rali)'s house by saying:
"for he is a blind man and you can take off your garment.”
(Sahih Muslim and others)
There is nothing wrong in a girl or woman wearing shorts and playing football because it is not haram in Islam.